Lockable slide device for motor vehicle seats

Abstract

A slide device includes a female section piece of U-shaped cross section, a male section piece sliding longitudinally between the branches of the U in the female section piece, and a latch for longitudinally immobilizing the male section piece on the female section piece. The latch is formed of an end part of an elastically flexible blade which is fixed, at some distance from the end part, on one of the section pieces. The end part is provided with square teeth which, in a locked position, engage with notches made on the other section piece. The slide device includes unlocking means acting on the latch in order, by an elastic flexing of the blade, to disengage the square teeth from the notches.

I claim: 
     
       1. Slide device for a vehicle seat, including a female section piece of U-shaped cross-section having two branches, and a male section piece, of generally U-shaped cross-section, sliding longitudinally between the said branches in the said female section piece, and a latch for longitudinally immobilizing the male section piece on the female section piece wherein the latch is formed of an end part of an elastically flexible blade, the said blade being placed inside the slide device and fixed, at a pre-selected distance from the said end part, on one of the said section pieces, and the said end part being provided with teeth which, in a locked position, engage with notches made on the other section piece, and further wherein the slide device includes unlocking means acting on the said end part of the blade in order to disengage the said teeth from the said notches by an elastic flexing of the said blade. 
     
     
       2. Slide device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is fixed to a bight section of the male section piece. 
     
     
       3. Slide device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is fixed to branches of the male section piece. 
     
     
       4. Slide device according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking means include a balance bar comprising at least one arm articulated on a front end part of the blade opposite to the latch, said arm having an end which rests on the said end part forming said latch. 
     
     
       5. Slide device according to claim 4, wherein the arm of the balance bar is immobilized axially on the said blade by a narrowed portion butting against the front end part of the blade and a stop formed at the end of the arm. 
     
     
       6. Slide device according to claim 4, wherein the arm of the balance bar is connected to the blade by a ring formed on the end part forming said latch and in which the end of the arm is inserted. 
     
     
       7. Slide device according to claim 4, wherein the balance bar includes, on the arm, a transverse cutout which fits over an edge of an opening in the said front end part and through which the said arm passes. 
     
     
       8. Slide device according to claim 1 wherein the unlocking means include a pivoting cam resting on the end part forming said latch and operated by a lever handle. 
     
     
       9. Slide device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cam is mounted on a shaft pivoting in bearings (83) of the male section piece and housed in a recess of the said male section piece. 
     
     
       10. Slide device according to claim 1 wherein the one section piece has openings through which the teeth of the latch pass.